Communications Manager - INTERNAL

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Communications Manager is responsible for supporting the development and delivery of public health communications strategies, plans and campaigns in Public Health Wales.

The Communications Manager will:

Partnership Communications

Strengthen the partnership between Public Health Wales and its stakeholders by supporting and promoting open and proactive communications between them

Marketing Communications

Create, write and edit content for Public Health Wales materials, including social media, to be seen by stakeholders and the public

Support sustained engagement with local government, the third sector, the public and other stakeholders in relation to public health

Develop, deliver and evaluate communications campaigns in line with Government Communications Service methods

Media relations

Implement media relations programmes by:

Developing plans in relation to high-profile, complex, contentious and/or challenging issues

Drafting press releases, statements and features

Interpreting specialist clinical information into easy-to-understand health messages for the public; and promoting them

Liaising with journalists to promote feature and news ideas

Liaising with journalists to set up pictures

Liaising with journalists to set up interviews

Advising and supporting staff in drafting press releases and media responses on all types of issues including those which are complex, contentious and/or challenging

Advising and supporting staff on the delivery of health advice through the media

Working in partnership with communications officers of partner organisations who have different, and sometimes contradictory, perspectives

Liaising with journalists, pressure groups and the public on issues which may be distressing, emotional, unwelcome and/or stressful as well as complex, contentious and/or challenging

o Receive media enquiries on behalf of Public Health Wales and advise on, develop and manage responses on behalf of the organisations including lines to take on complex, contentious and/or challenging issues

o Develop and manage a media monitoring system which reports on the media profile of Public Health Wales and the messages reported

Websites

Liaise with staff in Public Health Wales and its web team to create, write and edit the content of its internet sites

Social media

Promote and use social media to promote engagement with public health issues

Standards for Health Services

Implement processes and systems in line with action plans to achieve the Standards for Health Services which relate to communication and citizen engagement

Collect evidence to demonstrate that Public Health Wales meets the Standards for Health Services which relate to communication and citizen engagement

Other

Analyse the communication implications of policy proposals and provide advice on managing the implications

Provide input and advice to policy development

Attend, report to and contribute to discussions at meetings of the Public Health Wales Communications Team

Deputise for the Senior Manager (Campaigns and Planning) at meetings and in other communications work in their absence

Provide an on-call, out-of-hours media response service in rota with other members of the Communications Team

Knowledge, Training and Experience

Knowledge of communications, campaign planning and delivery, public relations, journalism, social marketing and marketing/communication techniques, approaches and procedures in a public health environment

Knowledge of public sector organisations and the external political environment

Able to provide training and to impart knowledge to build communications and public health capacity in the public sector workforce and community

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Analyse and interpret complex internal communication issues, circumstances and perspectives; and advise on, and plan, solutions

Analyse and interpret complex stakeholder communication issues, circumstances and perspectives; and advise on, and plan, solutions

Evaluate the implications of the Standards for Health Services which relate to communication and citizen engagement for Public Health Wales and advise on a response

Analyse the communication implications of policy proposals (from within Public Health Wales and stakeholders) and provide advice on managing the implications

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click "Apply now" to view on Trac.

Person Specification

Other

Essential

• oAbility to travel to locations across Wales when required

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

• oHonours Degree oMSc or equivalent experience and training in Public Relations or Journalism oComprehensive knowledge and understanding of: - NHS systems and structures -The role and functions of public health organisations in Wales oIn depth workings of the written, broadcast and social media oComprehensive working of other communication media including audio visual

Desirable

• oMembership of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations oPostgraduate qualification in Public Relations oPublic health issues and structures oWelsh public sector oWelsh media oWelsh government and political structures

Experience

Essential

• oMedia relations oPlanning and implementing campaigns

Desirable

• oWork in marketing oEmployment in a public health or health service environment oWork in a complex environment with many stakeholders oSocial marketing experience

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• oExcellent written, oral and aural communication skills, including use of spelling and grammar oExcellent skills for working with and influencing all types of media oExcellent and well developed influencing and negotiation skills oAbility to assimilate complex information from multiple sources and to apply personal knowledge to develop creative solutions to complex and challenging problems oAbility to deliver information, sometimes highly complex, using a variety of presentation tools to a range of different audiences, some of whom may be challenging, at all levels in the organisation in a manner that can be understood by staff at all levels oAbility to convey complex information in a way which is non-confrontational, shows empathy, tact, sensitivity and understanding to a variety of very different perspectives oAbility to work across organisational boundaries and within different environment oAbility to build confidence quickly from staff and senior managers in different agencies oAbility to inspire confidence in others including senior managers and clinicians . Ability to meet tight and rigid deadlines . Ability to work on multiple tasks . Ability to stay calm in a crisis . Ability to think quickly and clearly when faced with unexpected and complex challenges requiring an immediate response . Ability to respond rationally to emotional, highly charged and unwelcome situations . Ability to work on own initiative . Commitment to continuing professional development

Desirable

• oWelsh language speaking and writing skills are desirable

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Public Health Wales

Address

2 Capital Quarter

Tyndall Street

Cardiff

CF10 4BZ

Employer's website

https://phw.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)